Improvement in electro-vapor baths



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. S, POWERS. i Electra Vapor-Bath. No. I98,l52.Patented Dec. 11,1877.

2 Sheets-Sheet G. S. POWERS. Eleotro Vapor-Bath.

15 Patented Dec. 11,1877.

WITNESSES N- FETF-RS, PHOTO-LITMOGRAFHER, WASHINGTONFD O.

patient lying upon the hammock.

U I ED STATES/PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN s."rownns, or FOUNTAIN, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-VAPOR BATHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,152, dated December11, 18 77; application filed August 24, 1877. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN S. PowERs, of Fountain, in the county ofFillmore and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and ImprovedElectro-Vapor Bath; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and

exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this specification, in Whl(3h- Figure l is aside elevation fromthe front or entering side; Fig. 2, a plan view withthe cover raised; Fig. 3, an outside end view; Fig. 4, an inside endview with the case invertical section; Fig. 5, a vertical longitudinalsection. v

The object of my invention is to provide an improved electro-vapor bath,designed for the application of the electric current to the human systemfor the cure of diseases.

The improvements consist in the means for accommodating the patient, andapplying the current either in reclining or sitting posture to thevarious parts of the body, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing, Z represents an inclosed case or cabinet, which isprovided with a hinged lid or cover, Y, which shuts in the top of thecase, a door, X, through which the patient gains access to the interior,and a thermometer, N, for indicating the temperature within. In theupper portion of the case is arranged the reclining-bath, which isconstructed as follows: A head-support, B, is fixed in cleats a a in thesides of the case, and to the inner edges of the same are hooked thefront ends of a wire hammock, I, the foot of which is attached to asupporting-bar, W.

To the edges of the head-support B, and the.

sides of the case is also removably fitted a vertical board, F, which atits junction with the head-support is cut out, to admit the passage ofthe head and receive the neck of the The space above the patients headis open for access of fresh air, but above his body the case is closedby boards (3 and D, which rest in slightly inclined position, with theirfront and higher ends upon the edge of the vertical board F, and withtheir rear ends upon a permanent shelf, A. Instead of having the patientrecline upon the hammock with his head upon the support B, he may occupya sitting posture-with his head projecting through an opening closed bythe hinged door Gin the I to be partially removed and partially changed1n location to make room for the sitting'bath. In changing thereclining-bath to a sittingbath the head-support B and board F arevremoved with cover 0 andD. B is then placed upon the upper cleats a a, Fand G dispensed with, and the cover 0 and edge of B, while. theopeningwhich was formerly closed by G is adapted to receive the head ofthe patient, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. v

The support for the patient in the sittingbath consists of a seat, J,wholly or partially covered with a sheet-metal electrode, 12, and;

mounted upon a standard, *0, which moves vertically in a hollow socketof a base, d. The seat is thus made for different patients, (which isnecessitated by reason of the fixed position of the head,) and is heldto its adjustment by a spring, 6, carrying a locking-bolt, f, the springinto one of a series of recesses in the standard'c of the seat. The saidseat is detached from the cabinet and movable therein, as is also thefoot-rest K. This latter consists of a series of steps having metalconducting-surfaces, the bottom step of which is formed into areceptacle for water or a medicated liquid, into which the feet may beplaced. The foot-rest is graduated with steps to adapt it to theadjustmentof the seat.

In applying the current the battery (not shown) is placed upon thestationary shelf A, and is attached to such of the connections 1 2 3 4 56 as may be necessary. These connections have attached, respectively,the wires g hi j is l, which operate. in conjunction as follows:Connection 6 and wire g transmit the current to the hammock, andconnection 5 and wire h conduct the current to an electrode, L,terminating in a sponge, with which the patient treats himself whenlying upon the hammock or sitting upon the seat. Gon- D' supported andarranged upon the permanent shelf A andvertically adjustable whichlatter is forced by r nection 4 and wire z lead to the foot-rest K,

and connection 3. and wire j lead to the electrode upon the seat J.Connection 2 and wire k, and connection 1 and wire Z lead, respectively,to a special set of electrodes, m and n, either one of which may operatein connection with the electrode on seat J, or any other electrode.These special electrodes are in the nature of arms, terminating insponges, and rotated from the out-side of the case by cranks m n. Theupper one of these sponges applies, with a rotary motion, the current tothe neck, shoulders, and upper portion of the back above the kidneys,while the lower one treats the kidneys, the lower portion of the back,and hips. Both these electrodes are made vertically adjustable by theirarrangement in a sliding bearing, P, which is guided in keepers 0, andis flanged upon the inside of the cabinet, so that in its adjustment theslot in the case is not uncovered, and the vapor is, consequently, notallowed to escape.

Instead of two of these revolving electrodes, one, by an increasedadjustment, maybe made to perform the function of both.

0 O are openings, closed by pivoted doors, through which the patient mayinsert his arms to be treated; and R is a removable door, through whichthe lamp may be inserted which generates'the steam. The upper portion ofthe door It, (designated by the letter (2,) is cut or sectioned in sucha manner as to correspond to the seat and thighs," so as to receive thelower extremities when they are to be treated. M is an opening in. thedoor X, closed by a pivoted cover, which opening is designed to admitthe hand of the physician when treating the patient on the hammock orseat. Tis a semicircular cushion, upon which the patients head may rest,or which may be placed about his neck and under his chin, when thepatient is in sitting-bath, to prevent the vapor from escaping throughthe opening for the head.

S represents a small pipe or tube, with stop-cock, which conducts thesteam or medicated vapor outdoors or into a waste-room. It is also usedfor changmock, I would state that, although I have shown and describedit as made of wire, I do not confine myself to the same, as one made ofcanvas or cloth will do.

When I use a wire hammock, I paint the same, so as to render it anon-conductor, the current being directed through the body of thepatient from an electrode in his or the practitionershand, to anotherelectrode placed at the feet or other suitable position.

A modification which I sometimes make in the head-support B is to cutthe hole for the head entirely in the same, opening at the edge justenough to permit the neck to be inserted laterally. This constructiondispenses with the hinged cover G and the necessity of cutting out thecovers 0 and D.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination with the case or cabinet Z, having permanent shelf A, of theremovable head-support B, hammock I, vertical board F, having door G,and the cover 0- and D, made removable, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. The foot-rest K, made in the form of steps, with conducting-surfaces,and having the lower step formed into a receptacle for fluids, for thepurpose described.

3. The revolving electrodes on and n, arranged in a sliding and flangedbearing, P,

and combined with the slotted case Z, for thepurpose described.

' 4. The case Z, having door R, with section Q, formed to fit the lowerextremities, and having also openings 0 O for the arms, provided withpivoted covers, for the purpose described.

CALVIN S. POWERS.

Witnesses:

A. W. PowERs, JOHN HALVERSON.

